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News Release

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America’s most successful conservation and recreation program is now one step away from being law

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

WASHINGTON -- In a bipartisan 363-62 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a public lands bill today that, if signed into law by President Trump, will permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The bill passed the Senate 92-8 earlier this month.

LWCF, a historically bipartisan program that has funded projects in all 50 states since its inception in 1965, expired on September 30, 2018. The program supported everything from the expansion and maintenance of local parks and recreation centers to national forests, national parks and historical sites.

Erik DuMont, Public Lands Campaign director for Environment America, issued the following statement.

“America’s public lands -- our National Parks, Forests and Wildlife Refuges -- are an American invention, and one of the most important treasures we can pass onto the next generation. By permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Congress has reinstated one of our best tools for ensuring we can protect these iconic places.”

“We applaud Senators and Representatives from both sides of the aisle for achieving this long sought conservation goal, and urge President Trump to sign the bill into law. Moving forward, we’ll keep pushing to make sure LWCF is fully funded. Our public lands deserve no less.”

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Environment America is the national federation of statewide, citizen-based advocacy organizations working for a cleaner, greener, healthier future.